Rotary press and lint sampler



s. w. slNcLAlR 3,143,958

ROTARY PRESS AND LINT SAMPLER Aug. 11, 1964 Original Filed May 16, 19614 Sheets-Sheet 1 coman/JMJ Q 4 1 67N MACH/NE CUIT/N6 Jfadf VV. J/n c/a/fINVENTOR.

ATTOHNEVJ aa/A Z Aug. 11, 1954 s. w. slNcLAlR 1 3,143,958

ROTARY PRESS AND LINT SAMPLER Original Filed May 16, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet2 s. w. slNcLAlR 3,143,958

ROTARY PRESS AND LINT SAMPLER Aug. l1, 1964 Original Filed May 16, 19614 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOHIVEYJ s. w. slNcLAlR 3,143,958

ROTARY PRESS AND LINT SAMPLER Original Filed May 16, 1961 Aug. 11, 19644 Sheets-Sheet 4 2, aan, n00b# fyi United States Patent O 3,143,958ROTARY PRESS AND LINT SAlVHLER Stuart W. Sinclair, Houston, Tex.,assignor to Anderson, Clayton & Co., Houston, Tex., a corporation ofDelaware Original application May 16, 1961, Ser. No. 110,478, now PatentNo. 3,122,089, dated Feb. 25, 1964. Divided and this application July19, 1963, Ser. No. 311,932

5 Claims. (Cl. 10ft-'89) The present invention relates to an improvedrotary press and lint-Y sampler particularly useful in increasing thedensity of ginned cotton fibers and making a continuous sample ofcompressed cotton as it is being placed in a conventional press forbaling.

This application is a division of the co-pending application of StuartW. Sinclair entitled Rotary Press and Lint Sampler, Serial No. 110,478,filed May 16, 1961, now Patent No. 3,122,089.

Although the present invention is particularly described hereinafterwith reference to cotton fiber, it will become apparent that the presentinvention is useful in increasing the density of any compressible fiberlint and making a continuous sample thereof. The present disclosure isdirected, therefore, to a rotary press and sampler for cotton, but itWill be understood that other fibers and lints are encompassed withinthe scope hereof. To understand the theory of the present invention andthe state of the cotton press art, a summary is given.

When raw cotton reaches the gin, it is first processed in a cotton ginto remove the seed and a great deal of the trash picked up with thebolls. The cotton fiber output of the cotton gin is typically calledlint. The lint is very light, fluffy and loose, hence, for economy oftransportation and storage, it is compressed to a higher density, andthis compressed mass of cotton lint is called a bale. These bales aresomewhat rectangular in shape for they are typically produced on platenpresses.

Typically, gins produce either gin fla bales or gin standard bales,although a very few gins produce a much denser bale called the gin Hi-D(gin high density). n The gin at press costs approximately $8,000 at thepresent time and produces a bale having a density of about 15#/cu. ft.The gin standard press produces a bale having a density of about20-25#/cu. ft, and costs a great deal more-approximately $25,000 at thepresent time, even though the bale density has increased only 5*10#/cu.ft. The gin Hi-D press is a massive piece of equipment costingapproximately $75,000 at the present time and produces a bale having adensity of about 32-35#/cu. ft.

To understand the reason why these various gin presses increase sorapidly in cost, reference is made to FIG- URE 9 wherein an approximatepressure-density curve a-b is shown for the compression of cotton. Toproduce a gin fiat bale, the press must exert a pressure of about150,000.1?. Thus, following the curve upwardly from a, the press exertsa force of 150,000# at point c, which is equivalent to a densityof about25#/cu. ft. Then, when the press is opened to permit tying of thecompressed cotton with bands, the cotton expands along the line c-d. Dueto the lay of the lint and the nature 3,143,958 Patented Aug. 1 `1, 1964ICC rthe cotton follows the original compression curve a-b upwardly.

ln a similar manner, to produce a'gin standard bale of 20#/cu. ft.density, a total force of about 600,000# must be exerted, and to producea gin Hi-D bale of 35#/cu. ft. density, a total force of 24,500,000#must be exerted. Further, the gin Hi-D press platen has an area of about20 in. x 54 in. and the press stroke is approximately 8 ft. 6 in. Thus,it is readily seen that the machines are huge, and extremely powerful,and accordingly the price is prohibitive.

Nonetheless, if a quantity of cotton were available, the cost might bejustified. Unfortunately however, gins are typically located in smalltowns and the geographical area which a gin can economically serve islimited. So, very few gins can afford the gin Hi-D press, even though itproduces a more economically shipped and stored bale. Consequently, themajority of gins produce a gin flat bale which is sent to the compressfor further densification. At the compress more cotton is available,hence larger equipment is justified.

From the foregoing, it is seen that it would be very advantageous toprovide a small press, simply made, relatively inexpensive, which iscapable of exerting at least 2,000,000# force on cotton lint in such amanner as will produce a very high density bale. Such a press could thenbe economically installed at the gin to provide bales for export anddomestic use, and the need for the compress would be eliminated, exceptperhaps as a warehouse. These, then are the general objects of thepresent invention.

Previously, presses have been suggested and built which produce a roundbale or a long cylinder of cotton, by rolling a continuous length ofbatting. Patented examples showing these round bale presses are: Treese,653,- 191 Treese, 980,706; Brown, 1,257,798; Mackenzie, 1,834,466; andMackenzie, 1,881,774. The round bale so produced was quite effectivefrom the ginners standpoint, but was unacceptable to the textile millsdue to the matted fiber produced in the center of the bale.

The present invention is directed to a rotary press which incorporates adrum about which the cotton lint is wound and compressed. Thereafter,this compressed cotton lint is removed from the drum and placed in asmall banding press for the attachment of bands. The resultant bale isrectangular in cross-section, and its density is superior to that of thegin Hi-D bale. The entire rotary press is quite 44small and the baleproduced therefrom is uniform, without matted fibers.

In addition to utilizing the present invention as a rotary press, asmaller version thereof is ideally suited for use as a lint sampler.Cotton is one of the few commodities still purchased by samples. Thisnecessitates hiring expert Samplers in each cotton producing area tograde the baled cotton as to quality. It is customary for the Sampler tocut the burlap protective cover on each bale and remove a large sampleplug of cotton. This plug is then examined and graded, and it is assumedthat the plug adequately represents the remainder of the bale. If theonce plugged bale is not then sold, it will be left in a Warehouse untilanother potential buyer is found. Again the plugging and grading isrepeated, until the bale is sold. By this time, it is not unusual forthe price of the bale to decline because of its mangled condition afterbeing repeatedly plugged.

Prior devices to solve this problem have been developed whichintermittently remove bursts of cotton lint from the ue between the ginmachine and the baling press, condense the lint, tramp it, and finallyinsert a dozen or so layers into a paper wrapper. These devices weredeveloped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Because the cotton is sampled intermittently, the sample does notcontain a portion of all of the lint in the bale, nor does across-section of the paper-wrapped sample represent a similarcross-section of the bale. Since the price of the bale is determined bythe quality of the sample, it is very advantageous to provide a trulyrepresentative sample. Such a sample should contain a portion of all ofthe fiber in the bale, it should be compressed as is the bale, it shouldhave the same fiber lay, and the bale should not be disturbed whengrading the sample. The lint sampler of the present invention meets allof these requirements, and is additionally small, simple, easilyrepaired, and requires very little control equipment. Further, the lintsampler utilizes a smaller sample valve in the lint flue which opensonly once.

The lint sampler of the present invention is directed to a rotary presswhich incorporates a drum about which the cotton lint is wound andcompressed. Thereafter, the compressed cotton lint is removed from thedrum and placed in a sample bag or paper wrapper. The lint samplergathers and compresses cotton liber virtually the entire time that thecorresponding bale is being formed either on a rotary press orconventional platen press.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a rotarypress and lint sampler which has all of the advantages hereinbeforementioned and overcomes the disadvantages of the prior devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide la small presscapable of exerting 2,000,000# force on cotton lint in such a manner aswill produce a very high density bale with Yunmatted fibers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary presshaving a `drum which produces a circular band of compressed fiber.

Another object is to provide a rotary press having a drum from whichcompressed ber may be easily and readily removed, and converted intoelongate batts for the formation of a rectangular cross-section bale orfor insertion into a sample wrapper.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novelmeans for the removal of a compressed ring of ber from the drum of arotary press.

Anonther .object of the present invention is to provide a rotaryV presswhereby the pressure necessary to form a highly compressed ber batt needbe applied to only a small part of the liber at any one time, thussubstantially reducing the total force, size, and complexity of thepress.

Another object of the present invention is -to provide a ber press whichrequires no surges of energy and which employs a mechanical drive withcomponents familiar to ginners and without the need for fluid pressuresand attendant oil stains.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description of presently preferred embodiments of theinvention, given for the purpose of disclosure, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, where like character referencesdesignate like parts throughout the several views, and where:

FIGURE l is a schematic representation of the flow of cotton in a gin,showing the present invention utilized as a lint sampler,

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of one form of ejection mechanismfor compressed batts of the present invention,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the compressed ring-likebatt being cut,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the batt being ejected,

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of a lint sampler according to the presentinvention,

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the device of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a front View of the device of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 8 is a schematic representation of one form 4 of drive for thecompression rollers of the device of FIG- URE 5, and

FIGURE 9 is a pressure density curve of cotton liber showing the effectof compression and expansion.

Generally, the apparatus of the invention comprises a drum whosecircumference is surrounded by a series of compression rollers. Inaddition, means are provided for the ejection of a ring-like batt ofcompressed liber, such as by cutting the ring and then running the battout.

The theory of the invention is quite readily seen by referring to FIGURE9, and the prior discussion thereof hereinabove. Briey, cotton fiberwhen compressed follows the curve a-b upwardly. This curve is derivedfrom data obtained when compressing bales of cotton in hydraulicpresses. As previously noted, if the cotton fiber is compressed until acertain pressure is reached, such as at c and then the pressure isremoved, the cotton gradually expands along the line c-d. Therefore, thedensity has increased even though the pressure is removed, for thedensity at d is greater than that at a. Further, if the once compressedber is recompressed it substantially follows the curve d-c untilintersecting the original curve a-b, hence the recompression curve wouldbe d-cb. A similar family of expansion and recompression curves existsall along the curve a-b.

If the cotton fiber is compressed along a-b to c, then removed from thepress, it expands down to d. Thereupon, the compressed liber (now abatt) is placed in a small press for banding and a comparatively smallamount of pressure again applied (such as that indicated by thehorizontal dashed line labeled band holding force) and the density isagain increased to that at point e. This may be conveniently done in asmall conventional banding platen press.

Thus it is seen that the problem is to effect a substantial irstcompression along the curve a-b, with much smaller equipment thanheretofore used. Therefore, the present invention applies a very highpressure to a small area of the cotton fiber by wrapping the cotton lintabout a drum and compressing the lint between the drum and a series ofrollers disposed about the drum. Thereupon, means are provided for theremoval of the compressed ring of cotton from the rotary press. Thediscussion which follows is iirst directed to a lint sampler forcompressing and packaging a sample of cotton lint which may be used forgrading a contemporaneously formed bale. Then the discussion will turnto additional forms of the rotary press for particular use in baleforming instead of sam pling, although all may be used interchangeably.

Referring now to FIGURE l, a generalized schematic view of the ilow ofcotton lint in a gin is shown. The trash is removed and the incomingcotton bolls are then deseeded in the conventional gin machine 20. Thenthe cotton is conducted to the conventional gin press 22 through a lintilue or conduit 24. The lint may be carried by a positive pressure (suchas by blowers) or by a vacuum system, both of which are conventional,and a condenser 26 is used to remove the air and leave an uncompressedmat of iiber. This mat is built up in layers in a co111ventional ginpress 22, and then compressed into a ba e.

A sample valve 2S is provided in the ilue 24 for the removal of a sampleof cotton lint which will be made into a packaged compressed sample. Aconventional sample valve 2S is shown in the patent to Gaus et al., No.2,320,544. Leading from the valve 28 is a duct 30, which may be aflexible hose, that carries a small part of the airborne lint 32 to thelint sampler 34. The lint sampler 34 includes condenser rollers 36,guide rollers 38 immediately downstream from the condenser rollers 36,and a drum i0 surrounded by compression rollers 42. Associated with thedrum i0 is a means of removing the compressed batt, hereinafterdescribed. The cotton batt 44 leaving the condenser rollers 36 is shownas a mat defined by two solid lines for ease of explanation.

.5 The condenser rollers 36 turn inwardly toward each other, asindicated by the arrows, and remove the air which carries the lint 32.In a conventional manner, therefore, the condenser rollers 36 provide aloose batt 44 of cotton fiber which is fed to the guide rollers 38. Theguide rollers 38 also rotate inwardly to provide a slight firming up orcompression of the batt 44 and also to feed the batt 44 onto the drum40. The drum 40 rotates in a certain direction, such as that indicatedby the arrow, and likewise the compression rollers 42 rotate withsubstantially the same peripheral speed as the drum 40, so that the batt44 is fed and wound about the drum 40. The compression rollers 42 arespaced from the periphery of the drum 40 a small distance to allow thebatt 44 to pass therebetween. In a conventional manner, some or all ofthe compression rollers 42 may be knurled, toothed, splined, or the liketo aid in winding the batt 44 upon the drum 40. In a spiral manner, thesuccessive layers of the batt 44 are built up on the drum 40. As thethickness of the wound batt 44 increases, the compression rollers 42begin to compress the batt 44.

The compression of the wound batt 44 continues until either the ginpress 22 is full and the lint in the lint flue 24 is shut off upstreamfrom the valve 28, or until the lint sampler 34 is shut down due toreaching its capacity, or until the lint from the gin machine isdiverted through appropriate conventional means to a similar gin press22 and lint sampler 34 or a conventional accumulator (not shown). In anyevent, as a mere matter of design, the capacity of the lint sampler 34is designed so that the compression on the batt 44 is substantiallyequivalent to that of a normal bale being formed in the gin press 22,and this desired compression is designed to be reached at approximatelythe same time as the con! denser 26 for the gin press 22 is shut down.Therefore, advantageously, the valve 28 is opened only once and remainsopen thereafter substantially the entire time the bale is being formedin the gin press 22. It is readily seen, therefore, that the batt 44compressed by the. lint sampler 34 contains a sample portion ofvirtually all of the cotton in the bale, and also provides a batt 44which is compressed in layers just as the bale. Further, the lay issimilar to the bale and unmatted, for compression occurs in only onedirection.

Referring again to FIGURE 9, it is seen that the pressure needed to forma high density bale increases rapidly. The pressure is, of course, denedas the force divided by the area. Therefore, in a conventional platenpress if it is necessary to produce 22,500,000# force on a platen areaof 20 in. x 54 in. to form a gin Hi-D bale, the resultant pressureneeded is roughly 300,000 pounds per square foot (p.s.f.). Now,'if thearea of compression is substantially reduced and the resultant pressureneeded remains the same, i.e., roughly 300,000 p.s.f., then thenecessary force is likewise substantially reduced. Thus, if the area ofcompression is reduced to 20 in. x 14 in., the necessary force isreduced to roughly l0,000#, and the resultant pressure remains 300,000p.s.f. In this manner, a substantial reduction in force has occurred,and the size of the press may be accordingly reduced.

As shown in FIGURE l, the compression rollers 42 surround the drum 40.The batt 44 being compressedis disposed therebetween. The theoreticalarea being compressed is only the line of Contact between thecompression roller 42 and drum 40, and this line is as long as theroller 42 with no appreciable width. The actual area, however, is thelength o-f the roller 42 and a nite width, and it is obvious that thehighest pressure is exerted on the batt 44 at its intersection with aplane through the centers of the drum 40 and roller 42. In any event,the force necessary to compress the batt is reduced.

When the lint 32 coming from the valve 28 is shut of, the batt 44 isimmediately wound and compressed around the drum 40, and becomes a ringof compressed cotton ber. This ringmust then be removed from the into arectangular wrapper or sack 60.

6 drum 40 and converted into an elongate batt for insertion in awrapper. Referring now to FIGURES 24, one means for doing so is shown.Briefly, this means comprises cutting the ring and running the batt 44olf of the drum.

One sector of the circumference of the drum 40 is composed of a cutter46 having the same width as the drum 40. The cutter 46 is pivoted aboutthe axis 48, and includes two cylindrical surfaces 50 and 52. Surface 50has the same radius as the drum 4t) so that when this surface 50 isexposed, the perimeter of the drum 40 denes a circle, such as shown inFIGURE 2. Surface 52, however, is designed to bulge outwardly whenexposed on the drum 40, as in FIGURE 3, so that the spacing between thecompression roller 42 and the exposed surface 52 is less than thatbetween the drum 40 and compression roller 42. Pivotably attached to thecutter 46 is a connecting link 54 and pivotably attached to the link 54is a crank 56. The crank 56 may be rotated through the axis of the drum40.

To cut the batt 44 and remove it from the lint sampler 34, the rotationof the drum 40 and compression rollers 42 is stopped, with the cutter 46opposite cornpression roller 42a. Thereupon, one of the compressionrollers 42b is pivoted outwardly from the drum 40. Then the rotation ofthe compression rollers 42a and 42b is reversed. At the same time, thecrank 56 is rotated to move the link 54 which rotates the cutter 46about the axis 48. In this manner, the surface 50 is withdrawn into thedrum 40 and the bulging surface 52 is exposed. Compare FIGURES 2 and 3.Since compression roller 42a is the only rotating roller now contactingthe batt 44, and since the spacing between the roller 42a and the cutter46 is reduced, the rotating roller 42a tears or cuts the batt 44 alongthe width of the drum 40, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Roller 42a continues to rotate, and begins to rotate the drum 40 throughthe butt 44. After a slight rotation of the drum 40, the crank 56 isagain rotated to retract the bulging surface S2 and re-expose surface50, thereby making the surface of the drum 40 a circular cylinder again,as shown in FIGURE 4. The compression roller 42C immediately below thepivoted roller 42b, is now rotated in a direction opposite to that ofrollers 42a and 42h, so that the leading edge of the batt 44 is ejectedoutwardly between roller 4212 and roller 42C, as seen in FIGURE 4. Afterone revolution of the drum 40, the batt 44 is completely ejected.

Thereupon, the ejected batt 44 is led through appropriate dischargerollers 58 (seen in FIGURE 7) and In a few seconds, the dischargedcotton batt 44 begins to expand and fills the sack 60. The sack 60 isthen removed from the lint sampler 34, and the operation is complete. Asample batt has been made which contains a portion of virtually all ofthe lint which makes up the bale, the sample has been compressed inlayers, the fiber lay resembles the bale and is unmatted, and theequipment utilized is relatively simple.

- Now that the theory of operation and generalized schematics have beenpresented, an embodiment of the lint sampler 34 of the present inventionwill be discussed. A presently preferred embodiment is shown in FIGURES5-7. Referring now to FIGURE 5, the lint sampler 34 generally includes aframe 62 on which are rotatably mounted the condenser roller pulleys 136which are directly connected to the condenser rollers 36, the guideroller pulleys 138 which are directly connected to the guide rollers 38,the drum pulley 140 which is connected to the drum 40, and thecompression roller gears 142 which are connected to the compressionrollers 42, all in a conventional manner. The condenser roller pulleys136, guide roller pulleys 138, idler 64, adjustable idler 66, and apulley 68 (shown in FIGURE 8) are interconnected by a belt 70, in such amanner that the pulleys will rotate in the direction shown by the arrowswhen feeding a batt to the drum. The adjustable idler 66 is rotatablymounted on a plate 72 which is pivotably mounted at 74 on the frame 62.The plate 72 includes an arcuate slot 76 through which a bolt 78 isattached to the frame 62. When the bolt 78 is loosened, the plate 72 maybe pivoted to tighten the belt 70.

A pulley 88 is attached to the jack shaft 82 and connected by a belt 84to a motor 86. The jack shaft 82 in turn moves the belt 88 to rotate thedrum pulley 146, and therefore the drum 40. Shown in FIGURE 7 is anappropriate drum gear 92 connected to the drum pulley 146 to drive thecompression roller gears 142 and therefore the compression rollers 42.An identical drum gear 92 is shown in FIGURE 7. Surrounding the upperpart of the condenser rollers 36, which cannot be seen in FIGURE becauseof the condenser roller pulleys 136, is a seal 90 which is -typicallyused in positive pressure type condensers. A similar seal 90 and thecondenser rollers 36 are clearly shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, the front of the lint sampler 34 is shown.The drum gear 92 engages the compression roller gears 142. Since thecompression rollers 42 are closely spaced, as previously shown in FIG-URE l, alternate compression rollers 42 are driven from opposite sides,although they may be driven from the same side (Treese 653,191, supra).Mounted on the upper part of the frame 62 are the condenser rollers 36,and immediately below them are the guide rollers 38, shown in dottedlines. The motor 86 is also shown in dotted lines, as are the dischargerollers 58.

Pivotably mounted on the frame 62 is a lever 94 to which are attachedeccentric cams 96 and crank 98. The cams 96 are utilized to clamp thesack 66 to the lint sampler 34 by actuating two clamps 100, here shownas angle irons. Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6, the clamps 100 areclearly shown. The clamps 100 are pivoted to the frame 62 at points 102.When the lever 94 is pulled, it rotates in the frame 62 and turns eachcam 96. The cams 96 in turn pivot the clamps 100 about the pivot points162. In this manner, the clamps i) are moved toward or away from afunnel or chute 104 beneath the discharge rollers 58. The sack 60 istted about the funnel 104 and held thereon when the lever 94 is actuatedto move the clamps 100 against the top of the sack 60 and the funnel164. The funnel 104 is best seen in FIGURE 8.

The lever 94 also actuates the previously discussed cutter 46. The crank98 is pivotably attached to the link 106 (see particularly FIGURE 7),which is in turn attached to the disk 108. The disk 168 through anappropriate clutch (not shown) is operatively connected to the crank S6,previously discussed with reference to FIG- URES 2 and 3. Therefore,pulling the lever 94 also rotates the crank 98 which moves the link 166to rotate the disk 188. Rotation of the disk 108 thereupon actuates thecrank 56 and link 54, to pivot the cutter 46, thereby exposing thebulging cutter surface 52.

Still a third function is performed by the lever 94. When the sack 60 isattached, and the cutter 46 rotated for the cutting operation, then thecompression roller 42b is pivoted outwardly from the drum 4t).Particular reference is now made to FIGURE 8, wherein the lever 94 andpart of the gearing and pulleys for the drum 4t), compression rollers42, guide rollers 38, and discharge rollers 58 are shown. Thus thecompression rollers 42 are immediately attached to the compressionroller gears 142, the discharge rollers 58 to the discharge roller gears158 and the like. Keyed to the lever 94 is a crank 110, which ispivotably attached to the link 112, which in turn is pivotably attachedto the bell crank 114 which is pivotably attached to the link 116, whichis in turn pivotably attached to the compression roller 42b. Thecornpression roller 42b and its gear 142b are pivotably attached to thecompression roller 42a and its gear 142er,

as by the link 118. Therefore, pulling the lever 94 results in pivotingthe compression roller 42b and its gear 142b, as shown by the pivotedposition in dotted lines in FIGURE 8 and the addition of prime marks.Thus, pulling lever 94 rotates crank 110 to 110', moves link 112 to112', rotates bell crank 114 to 114', pulls out link 116 to 116', andtherefore pivots gear 142b to 142b away from the drum.

Finally, movement of the lever 94 may also reverse the motor 86 orassociated gearing to change the direction of rotation of the drum 40from compression to ejection of the batt 44. Likewise, it is obviousthat each of the functions of the lever 94 may be performed by separatelevers or other means within the skill of the art.

From the foregoing, it is felt that the operation of the presentinvention as a lint sampler 34 is apparent. Briey, then, the valve 28 isopened to admit airborne lint 32 to the condenser rollers 36 whichremove the air and from a loose batt 44. This batt 44 is rmed and guidedto the drum 40 by the guide rollers 38. Thereupon, the batt 44 iscompressed about the drum 40 by the compression rollers 42. When themain bale is finished, the valve 28 is closed and the remainder of thebatt 44 quickly wound and compressed. Thereupon the motor 86 is stoppedand the lever 94 pulled. This pivots the compression roller 42b awayfrom the drum 40; exposes the surface 52 of the cutter 46 to the actioncompression roller 42a; and clamps the sack 60 to the funnel `104. Then,through appropriate gearing, the rotation of the roller 42a begins inthe opposite direction and cuts the batt 44. The surface 52 of thecutter 46 is withdrawn and replaced again with surface 50. Thecompression roller 42a` begins to turn in a direction opposite to thedrum 40 rotation and leads the cut batt 44 to the discharge rollers S8.The discharge rollers guide the compressed batt 44 into the sack 60.Thereafter, a return of the lever 94 to its original position releasesthe sack 60 with the compressed sample therein, and prepares the lintsampler 34 for another cycle.

Obviously more or less compression rollers may be utilized than thoseshown, and the width of the drum increased or decreased as needed, allbeing Within the skill of the art. Likewise, the motor need not bemounted on the frame, nor need it be a motor at all, for the lintsampler may be actuated by an existing jackshaft in the cotton gin.

When it is desired to utilize the present invention as a rotary pressfor the production of full size bales, it is readlly apparent that thetype of drum previously discussed is quite adaptable therefor. In thisinstance, the rotary press would replace the large gin press 22 shownschematically in FIGURE 1. The rotary press would make a large number ofcompressed batts which would thereupon be stacked together on the platenof a small banding press. The banding press need not be a powerfulmachine, for reasons that will be apparent from another look at FIGURE9. When the rotary press compress the cotton along the curve from a tob, and then ejects the compressed batts, they will expand downwardlyalong the curve b-f. However, the cotton batts, even at point f, retaina considerable density, in the nature of 25#/cu. ft. Thereafter, torecompress the once cornpressed batts, the banding press need only exertthe small force represented by the horizontal dashed line (point g) toprovide a bale having a density of approximately 35#/cu. ft. In thismanner, a small banding press and the rotary press of the presentinvention have completely replaced the huge 86 stroke gin Hi-D platenpress. The banding press will represent no additional outlay to theginner, for such small presses are also utilized to band bales made byconventional gin platen presses.

Thus it is seen that the present invention provides a simple, yeteffective, means for the formation of highly compressed cotton battswhich may be utilized for the formation of bales or as a lint sampler.

As the theory of operation has been previously disclosed, the method ofthe present invention is believed to be apparent. The method is notintended to be limited to the apparatus embodiment shown. Briey, themethod of the present invention includes the condensation of airbornelint into a loose fibrous batt. Thereupon, the batt is wound upon asuitable drum and compressed between the drum and a series ofcompression rollers disposed about the drum. The compressed batt isquite dense, for the reasons proviously given with reference to FIGURE9. The compressed batt is then ejected from between the drum andcompression rollers, by cutting the batt, and led into a wrapper or sackfor use as a sample, or placed on a small banding press with similarcompressed batts for the formation of a banded bale.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out theobjects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as othersinherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changesin the details of construction, and the combination, shape, size,arrangement of parts, and uses may be resorted to without'departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a batt compressing rotary press, a rotatable nonadhesive battwinding drum, a series of rotatable compression rollers surrounding andspaced in xed relationship from the periphery of said drum, means forrotating said drum and rollers in the same rotary direction atsubstantially the same peripheral speed, batt forming means for formingcotton into a loose batt and introducing it between one of said rollersand said drum, whereby rotation of said drum and rollers winds said battupon the periphery of said drum and compresses said batt between saiddrum and rollers, a pivotable cutter mounted in a sector of theperiphery of said drum, said cutter including a circular surface and abulging surface, means for pivoting said cutter to expose said circularsurface when winding and compressing a batt and for pivoting said cutterto expose said bulging surface when cutting said batt for ejection aftercompression, and means for rotating said compression rollers and drum toeject said compressed vbatt after cutting.

2. The invention of claim 1 including one of said compression rollersbeing pivotably mounted adjacent said drum, and means for pivoting saidcompression roller away from said drum when said bulging cutter surfaceis exposed and said compressed batt is being ejected.

3. The invention of claim 2 including rotatable guide rollers disposedadjacent said pivotable compression roller, and means for rotating saidguide rollers and compression rollers and drum to eject said compressedbatt after cutting between said guide rollers and from said rotarypress.

4. In a batt compressing rotary press, a rotatable nonadhesive battwinding drum, a series of rotatable compression rollers surrounding andspaced in fixed relationship from the periphery of said drum, means forrotating said drum and rollers in the same rotary direction atsubstantially the same peripheral speed, a condenser and guide rollersdisposed adjacent said drum for forming a loose batt and introducingsaid bat between said drum and one of said compression rollers, wherebysaid batt may be wound upon said drum and compressed between said drumand said compression rollers, a pivotable cutter mounted in a sector ofthe periphery of said drum, said cutter including a circular surface anda bulging surface, means for pivoting said cutter to expose saidcircular surface when winding and compressing a batt and for pivotingsaid cutter to expose said bulging surface when cutting said batt forejection after compression, one of said compression rollers beingpivotably mounted for pivoting away from the periphery of said drum whenejecting said batt, discharge rollers disposed adjacent said pivotablecompression roller, means for rotating said pivotable compression rollerand an adjacent compression roller in opposite rotary directions forguiding the said batt during ejection from said drum to said dischargerollers, means for rotating said discharge rollers in opposite rotarydirections for discharging said compressed cut batt from said rotarypress, and means for rotating said drum and the remaining compressionrollers in the same rotary direction as the pivoted compression rollerwhen ejecting said compressed batt.

5. The invention of claim 4 including a funnel disposed beneath the saiddischarge rollers, and clamp means adjacent said funnel for holding asack into which said ejected batt is slid.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A BATT COMPRESSING ROTARY PRESS, A ROTATABLE NONADHESIVE BATTWINDING DRUM, A SERIES OF ROTATABLE COMPRESSION ROLLERS SURROUNDING ANDSPACED IN FIXED RELATIONSHIP FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM, MEANS FORROTATING SAID DRUM AND ROLLERS IN THE SAME ROTARY DIRECTION ATSUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PERIPHERAL SPEED, BATT FORMING MEANS FOR FORMINGCOTTON INTO A LOOSE BATT AND INTRODUCING IT BETWEEN ONE OF SAID ROLLERSAND SAID DRUM, WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID DRUM AND ROLLERS WINDS SAID BATTUPON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM AND COMPRESSES SAID BATT BETWEEN SAIDDRUM AND ROLLERS, A PIVOTABLE CUTTER MOUNTED IN A SECTOR OF THEPERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM, SAID CUTTER INCLUDING A CIRCULAR SURFACE AND ABULGING SURFACE, MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID CUTTER TO EXPOSE SAID CIRCULARSURFACE WHEN WINDING AND COMPRESSING A BATT AND FOR PIVOTING SAID CUTTERTO EXPOSE SAID BULGING SURFACE WHEN CUTTING SAID BATT FOR EJECTION AFTERCOMPRESSION, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID COMPRESSION ROLLERS AND DRUM TOEJECT SAID COMPRESSED BATT AFTER CUTTING.